Houston police arrest bicycle thieves after online sting

High-end bicyclies, like this model at Bike Barn, were stolen by the dozen. (Chronicle file)

Click 2 Houston reported that two men have been arrested for a string of break-ins at Houston bike shops that have resulted in 11 burglaries, 30 stolen bikes and an estimated $100,000 in damage.

Police posed as buyers and caught the men selling bikes on Craigslist and eBay days after they’d been taken from local shops like Bike Barn and the Houston Cycling Center, the station reported. Some even still had tags from the stores.

From the story:

Two men were arrested in that sting near Airline and the 610 North Loop. Troy Dean Hughes, 39, was jailed on a felony charge of theft. Police said he was also carrying a gun when he was arrested, resulting in an added charge of unlawfully carrying a weapon. He has a lengthy criminal record dating back to 1989, including numerous trips to jail for assault, robbery, theft and two other convictions for carrying a gun.

Also arrested was Wesley McCloy Latin, 29, of Houston. He was arrested for theft last year, but the unrelated charge was dismissed. He served three days in jail for possessing marijuana last year as well.

The Bike Barn’s owner, (Lee) Neathery, said it’s a tough time for small businesses to be hit by such a high-dollar racket. She referred to the eight different crimes at her stores, saying, “The accumulation of eight robberies could have easily wiped out a business … it’s been overwhelming,” she said.